Machine for applying bands, labels, or wrappers to cigars or other articles.



W. G. BRIGGS. MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.15, 1905.

1,004, 141 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nueutoz W. G. BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOB. APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1905.

1,004,141 Patented Sept. 26,1911.

18 BHBETS-BHEIIT 2.

witnesses W. O. BRIGGS. MACHINE roe APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPBRS TO CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.15, 1905.

1,004, 141 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

18 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q 31 wenl'oz Q/mzar ggs W G 4 Q (L R m W v await/M.

W. O. BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOB. APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 15, 1905.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

witnesses W. G. BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOB. APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, OR WRAPPBRS T0 GIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1905.

1,004,141. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W. G. BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPBRS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1905.

1,004, 141 Pa ented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 BHEETB-SHBBT 6.

awentoz W. G. BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS TO CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION rum) 11011.15, 1905.

1,004,141. Patentd Sept. 26, 1911.

16 SHEETS-*SHBET 'l.

" I l I/A E? I W. o. BRIGGS. I MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPBRS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1905.

1,004,141 V Patented 881111.26, 1911.

16 SHEBTS-SHBET 8- jig-2].

W. G. BRIGGS.

MACHINE 1'01; APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WBAPPBRS T0 owns OR OTHER ARTICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1905. 1,004,141 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

guoenl'o'n 111C. Bravos PP 6y 66 14660171437 W. G. BRIGGS. MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1905.

1,004,141, Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

W. -G. BRIGGS. MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1905.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

Suventoz flfclfirqgga 6 Add Aiorney-S witmona Z Q [Ml W W. C. BRIGGS.

LABELS, OR WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.15, 190s.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS,

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 8HEETS-8HEET 12.

W. G. BRIGGS.

MAGHINB FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1906.

1 ,004, 1 41 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

J Z10 J SHEETSSHEET 13. 5X I Z6 0 V2 v v m lwmm W. G. BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS TO CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.15, 1905. 1,004,141 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 BHEETS-SHEET 14.

6' i i 8 I1 Q/Vitnmoeo L. L. E ''g l W. G. BRIGGS.

MAGHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.15, 1905.

1 ,004, 1 41 Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 SHEETS-11331 16.

W. G. BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, 0R WRAPPERS T0 CIGARS OR OTHER ARTlGLI-IS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1906.

1,004,141 r Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 16.

glance" I01, 7% 0.321? Q8 65/ Ike's flor zey UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. BRIGGS, OF WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR T0 CAROLINA BANDIN G MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NORTH CAROLINA.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING BANDS, LABELS, OR WRAPPERS TO CIGARS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. P tented Sept. 26, 1911.

Application filed November 15, 1905. Serial No. 287,511.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. Bmccs, a citizen of the United States, residing in \Vinston Salem, in the county of Forsyth and State of North Carolina, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Machines for Applying Bands, Labels, or Wrappers to Cigars or other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a machine for applying to cigars the small bands or labels often used, especially on the higher grades of cigars, but as will hereinafter appear the machine whichI have produced for this purpose contains many features of construction which may be employed in machines for applying bands, labels, wrappers, or the like to bottles, cans, and many other articles or bundles of articles.

In the following specification I will, for convenience and simplicity, describe my improvements as being embodied in a cigar banding machine, it being understood, however, that without material change or with only slight modification the mechanism, or some parts thereof, may be made to operate on various articles.

Inasmuch as cigars differ in their characteristics from such articles as bottles, cans, and the like, some parts of the mechanism of my machine, which are especially designed for use when operating on cigars, are not suitable or necessary when dealing with other articles.

In my U. S. Patents No. 762,681 of June 14, 1904, and No. 764,707 of July 12, 1904, I have shown cigar-banding machines which are similar in many respects to the machine of my present invention. Some parts of the mechanism shown in those patents have merely been slightly changed or modified in my new machine, while others have been entirely reconstructed, my present improvements being designed to obtain increased speed and greater regularity in the operation and to obviate some imperfections in the prior mechanism.

In the machines of my former patents the labels or bands were printed on a strip or ribbon of indefinite length and this strip was severed into suitable lengths for banding the cigars. As'the bands were'fed to one end of each band and the band was delivered upon the top of an endless wrapping tape. The cigars were fed by an endless carrier-chain or conveyor toward the wrapping mechanism and in the machine of the second mentioned patent were transferred from the carrier'to the wrapping mechanism by devices which caused them to be delivered evenly and gently one at a time upon the top of the endless wrapping tape. Then the tape was slackened to form a pocket which received the cigar and then an endwise movement was given to the tape which caused the band to be wrapped around the cigar. According to my present invention, I feed the cigars toward the wrapping mechanism and deliver them thereto in much the same way as heretofore, but I have now provided certain devices for regulating the speed and adjusting the cigars in order that they may be delivered with greater uniformity. Instead of feeding the bands or labels from a strip or ribbon of indefinite length and applying paste thereto, I arrange previously gummed cut bands or labels in a pile within a magazine and feed them therefrom one at a time by novel devices to cigars when they tend to crowd at the deliv- I cry end of the hopper; the devices for preventing the cigars from being crowded and crushed by the feeding mechanism; the devices for evening up the cigars endwise while being carried toward the wrapping mechanism; the means for holding and delivering the bands to the wrappin mechanism; the devices for holdin the ands in the wrapping mechanism while the pockets are being formed therein; the novel mechanism for forming the pockets in the wrapping tapes and for giving an endwise movement to the tapes for rotating the cigars to wrap the bands around them, and the means for moistening the gummed bands just before they are wrapped.

There are many other features of my in- I vention which will be best understood after a detailed consideration of the specification and drawings.

The subject-matter deemed novel and patentable is set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the mechanism for operating the exhaust pump which forms part of the band-feeding mechanism. Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section on the line 66 of Fig, 2. Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective of the mechanism for operating the cigar conveyer belt and pocketed drum. Fig. 8 is a detail view of part of this mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the pinion on the carriershaft which is operated by the segment shown in Fig.7. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a guard for controlling the ratchet mechanism of the drum shaft. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the delivery end of the hopper which contains the cigars to be banded. Fig, 12 shows a longitudinal section of the delivery end of the hopper and the mechanism therein on the line 1212 of Fig. 13. Fig. 13 shows a vertical transverse section of the same on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a device for leveling the cigars in the pocketed feed drum. Figs. 15 and 16 are sectional views illustrating the mechanism for evening up endwise cigars of varyin lengths. Fig. 17 is a perspective view 0 part of this mechanism. Fig.18 is a sectional view thereof on the line 18-18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the two parts of one side of the cradle which receives the cigars from the carrier, conveys them to the wrapping mechanism and supports them while the pockets are being formed in the wrapping tapes. Fig. 20 is a view in longitudinal section of the cradle and'parts associated therewith. Fig. 21 is a view on an enlarged scale and in vertical transverse section on the line 2121 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 22 is a vlew in vertical transverse section on the line 2222 of Fig. 6 with some of the parts omitted. Fig. 23 is a view of the stationary cam which holds the pivoted arms of the wrapping mechanism closed after the cigars have been banded therein and which opens said arms to discharge the banded cigars and receive cigars to be handed. This fi ure also shows certain devices cooperating w1th the cam. Fig. 24 is a sectional view on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23. Fig. 25 is adetail view in vertical section of the moistening device. Fig. 26 shows a transverse sect-ion thereof on the line 2626 of Fig. 25. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the mechanism for'closing the arms of the wrapping mechanism to form pockets in the wrapping tapes and to surround the cigars being banded.

Fig. 28 is a detail sectional view'of one of the spring actuated spools on which the wrapping tape is wound. Fig. 29 is a detail view of the wrapping mechanism. Fig. 30 is a. detail view in perspective showing various parts of the wrapping mechanism and illustrating how the wrapping tape is supported, guided and actuated. Fig. 31 illustrates how the pocket is formed in the wrapping tape. Fig. 32 is adetail view in section on the line 32-32 of Fig. 28, of the spring actuated spool on which the wrapping tape is wound. Figs. 33, 34 and 35 are diagrams illustrating how the cigars are conveyed from the pocketed feed drum to the cradle and thence to the wrapping mechanism. Fig. 35 also illustrates how the oement'or paste on the bands is moistened just prior to the final wrapping of the bands. Fig. 36 is another diagram illustrating how the wrappin mechanism is actuated to discharge banded cigars and to receive cigars to be banded,

how the bands are held while the pockets are being formed and how the bands are moistened at the proper time. Fig. .37 is a detail view of the clampfor holding one end of the band after it has been fed to the wrapping'tape and while the pocket is beingview of one of the gripping jaws. Fig. 43'

shows in elevation the magazine for the bands and the pneumatic mechanism for taking individual bands from the -magazine. Fig. 44 shows in vertical section themechanism for withdrawing bands individually from the magazine and conveying them to the wrapping mechanism. Fig. 44 is a detail View showing an adjustment of .the band magazine. Fig. 45 shows a vertical central section on the line 4545 of Fig. 43, and it will be observed that the parts in Figs. 44 and 45 are in differentpositions. Fig. 46 is a detail view of part of the mechanism for adjusting the side plates forming part of the mechanism for conveying the cigars from the hopper to the wrapping mechanism. Fig. 47 is a detail view in section of the guide bar forthe band conveying devices and which is provided with means for exciting a friction on part of the mechanism at certain times. Figs. 48 and 49 are perspective views of the plates to which the band gripping jaws are connected. Fig. 50 is a perspective view of the upper end or mouth of a modified form of suction or exhaus't mechanism which withdraws bands individually from the band magazine. Fig. 51

is another view in plan of the pneumatic mechanism for withdrawing bands from the magazine. Fig. 52 is a perspective view of the devices employed for guiding the banded cigars while they are being discharged from the wrapping mechanism.

The main frame, A, of the machine may be of any construction suitable to support the mechanism and many parts of the mechanism have bearings therein. The general form of the main frame is clearly indicated in the drawings and need not be specifically described except when necessary to indicate the relation of some of the parts hereinafter specified.

To the top of the lower or main frame I attach an upper frame, B, which supports trays, C, that are adapt-ed to contain quantities of cigars to be banded. On the upper frame B, I mount a hopper, D, which is similar in many respects to that shown in my patents before mentioned. It comprises side plates, D, having braced flanges, (l, bolted to the casting, B, a rear end plate, D-, having an adjustable gate, D", and a front end piece, D", having a vertically adjustable plate or gate, D iVithin the hopper and parallel with the side plates, D, thereof are arranged laterally adjustable plates, E, E, which extend from the rear end of the hoper to the front end thereof and are adusted laterally by suitable devices in an obvious manner, that is to say, the plates are provided with arms, 6, that extend through bosses, 6 on the sides plates, 1) and set screws, e, in the bosses engage the arms and hold them tightly. In this way the plates may be adjusted in the hopper to conform approximately to the lengths of the cigars being operated upon and the cigars will thus be held substantially in the same relative position in the hop er with their ends substantially in line with each other.

In the lower portion of the hopper is arranged an endless flexible carrier or feed-belt, F, which extends from the rear of the hopper to the front portion thereof over pulleys, F F The pulley, F, is mounted on a shaft having stationary bearings, while the bearings of the pulley, F are adjustable as indicated in Fig. (3. This adjustment may be efiected in various ways. As shown, the axle, f, of the pulley, F is supported by arms, f, projecting rearwardly from a crosshead, i and against this cross-head screws, f hear, these screws being arranged in threaded lugs f, depending from a table, F, arranged below the upper turn of the belt, F. By these devices the belt may be stretched or may be allowed to relax. The shaft, F of the front pulley, F, carries at one end outside the hopper a ratchet wheel, G, with which engages a pawl, g, on a pin,

g, carried by an arm, mounted to turn on the shaft, F'". The pin, g, is connected by a link or connecting rod, G, with a pin, '9", which carries a pawl, g, and is connected with an oscillating lever, G, mounted to turn onthe shaft, H, of the pocketed cigar feeding drum and which is joined by a connecting rod, G with a vertically oscillating lever, G, operated in the manner hereinafter described. It is sufficient for the present to say that this lever, G, is oscillated vertically in such manner as to oscillate the lever, G to operate the pawls, g, 9*, to drive the ratchet wheelswith which they engage. The manner in which the pocketed ci ar feeding drum operates will be hereina ter described more fully but it may be said now that it is actuated step by step continuously. A stationary shield or guard, G, is employed to control the engagement of the pawl, g, with the ratchet wheel, H", that drives the pocketed cigar feeding drum.

In the ordinary operation of the machine, the ratchet wheel, G, is driven step b step regularly without intermission, but if the cigars become crowded in the delivery end of the hopper it is desirable to suspend the operation of the conveyer, F, until this choking or crowding is removed. For this urpose I provide a shield, G, extending rom a hub, g, on the shaft, F. This shield or guard, G, extends over a portion of the ratchet wheel as indicated in Fig. 7 and the hub, g, is formed with an arm, g, connected by a rod, g*, with an arm, secured to a rod, g, which extends through bearings in a bracket, G", on one side of the hopper. The opposite end of the rod, g, is secured to a bent rod, G to which is attached a rod, G, extending transversely across the central portion of the hopper and carrying a wide rimmed wheel, G", which is adapted to bear on the cigars in the hopper. An arm, 7, extends from the shaft, g", in an opposite direction to that of the arm, G, and carries a weight, G, which counterbalances the weight of the wheel, G. The organization is such that normally the shield or guard, G, is held in such position as to allow the pawl, g, to operate the ratchet wheel, G, step by step to cause the conveyer, F, to feed the cigars at a regular speed toward the delivery end of the hopper; but should the cigars crowd or back up to too great an extent at the delivery end of the hopper, the wheel, G, will be raised and the guard, G, will be moved in such manner as to assume a position beneath the pawl that will prevent it fro-m engaging its ratchet wheel for a time or will cause the pawl to engage each successive tooth of the ratchet wheel instead of moving the wheel forward two or three teeth at a time as it might be arranged to do in the normal operation of the mechanism. It will thus be seen that I have provided mechanism by which the supply of cigars by the endless conveyer to the pocketed cigar-feeding drum may be automatically regulated.

The conveyer, it will be observed, is provided with cross-pieces, F, which move the cigars along toward the drum, 1, and in order that the cigars may be properly guided from the conveyer to the drum, I employ a plate, J, which spans the spaces between the front end of the conveyer and the drum. This plate is attached at, j, to the front ends of the table, F and is illustrated particularly in Figs. 6, 11 and 12. The plate is cut away as illustrated to allow the con-- veyer to move and it is formed with fingers, j, which project rearwardly and are adapted to enter the recesses, d formed in the crosspieces, F, of the conveyer. In this way the cigars are taken from the conveyer and conveyed to the pocketed drum without danger of any of them being jammed between the conveyer and the drum, or between the rear end of the plate and the conveyer. As the cigars are usually tapered there is some danger of their being drawn in at-their tapered ends in such manner as to be crushed, but the device which I employ entirely prevents this.

The cigar-feeding drum, I, is secured to the shaft, H, and is formed on its periphery with a series of pockets, 2', adapted to receive the cigars individually in the manner shown in Figs. 12 and 13. This drum is driven by means of the'ratchet wheel, H, shown in Fig. 7 and before referred'to. It will be understood that the drum -is advanced step by step in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 12, and conveys the cigars in the pockets upwardly and delivers them in the manner hereinafter described. In order to prevent the drum from moving except when positively actuated by its driving mechanism a leather washer, i

- is held against the bearing-boss, 2', of the shaft, H, by a disk, '5 secured to the end of the shaft.

The plates, E, E, extend upwardly on opposite sides of the drum, I, as shown in Fig. 11 and terminate at the front end piece, D Plates, K, shown by dotted lines in Fig.

1.2 and in section in Fig. 13 extend upwardly from'the front end of the plate, J, on opposite sides of the feed drum and terminate in front of the end plate, D, as shown in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 1 2. In this way the bottom of the hopper is closed on opposite sides of the feed drum. The adjustable plate or gate, D may be set so that while the cigars may freely pass out underneath the plate, I), while in the pockets, '5, no cigars other than those properly arranged in the pockets can escape from the hopper.

The cigars should be held in a truly horizontal or level position while being conveyed by the feed drum. Inasmuch as some cigars are tapered more than others, it is advisable to employ some means for supporting the tapered ends of the cigars while in the pockets. For this purpose I employ a curved arm, L, shown in perspective in Fig. 14, and also clearly illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13; This arm projects upwardly from a base, L, which is connected with the hopper in such manner that it maybe adjusted. As shown, the arm, L, projects into an annular groove, Z, formed in the drum, I, in such manner as to not interfere with the rotation of the drum, but also in such manner that it may project into the pockets and support the tapered ends of cigars while they pass from the plate, J, to the front ordelivery end of the hopper; Preferably the base, L, is attached to the side of the hopper by a screw, Z, extending through a slot, P, in the base and by a screw, Z projecting vertically through a hole, Z in the base, L. By this device the arm, L, can be properly adjusted. I

The front portion of the pocketed clgarfeeding drum is contained between forwardly projecting portions of the sides, D, of the hopper and between these front side portions is located a plate, '1), which is formed with downwardly projecting fingers,

D, arranged between vertical plates, M,

which have laterally projecting base por- .tions, M, resting on the front shelf,-A of the main frame. The base portions, M, are slotted at m and have downwardly projecting flanges, m, one of which in each plate has a rack, m, (Fig. 1) with which engages a pinion, m (Fig. 46) on a shaft,

m provided at its upper end with a knob justment is accomplished by loosening the nuts, m", and turning the knobs, m, in the proper direction, and by reason of the engagement of the pinions, m with the racks, m, the plates will be moved in the proper direction. After the proper adjustment has been made the nuts, m may be tightened to hold the partsin their adjusted positions. Preferably both plates, M, are made adjustable in the manner just explained.

A horizontal shaft, N, mounted in bearings in the front portions of the sides, D, of the hopper carries hooks or catches, N, similar to those shown in my patent of July 12, 1904:, above referred to. A spring, N secured to the shaft and to the adjacent side, D, tends to move the shaft in one direct-ion, that is, in a directionto move the hooks, N, forward. The shaft is moved in 

